Telephone



(No Model.) 2, Shees--Sheet 2.

J. W. GLARK.

TELEPHONE. No. 258,891. Panted June 6, 1882.

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N ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JAMES V. ULARK, OF ETNA, OHlO.

TELEPHONE.

SPEOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,891, dated June 6,1882.

Application filed February 13, 1882. (No model.)

To all tchem it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMEs WILLsoN CLARK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Etna, in the county ofLicking and State of Ohio,have invented new and useful Im provements in Teleph ones, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in telephones in which the vocalline is connected at each end with the diaphragm of a receiving andtransmitting instrument, and in which a call is operated mechanically bymeans of the vocal line.

The objects of my invention are to provide for relieving the diaphragms,when the telephone is not being used, of the strain due to the tantnessof the Vocal line; to cut off the sound communication of the diaphragmsor to snspend their functions to receive and transmit sound whenever thetelephone is not being` used, and at the same time maintain theconnections of the vocal line with the instrnments for the purpose ofmaking a call from either instrument by the vibration of the lineindependent of the diaphragms.

In acoustic telephones, so far as I know and can find, the tension ofthe vocal-line wire has always been upon the diaphragms, giving them apermanent concave set, rendering them less sensitive to sound. Moreover,as hitherto used, the vocal line is subject to moreI or less contractionand expansion, and therefore requires frequent adjnstment to maintain aproper taut connection With the diaphragms. Vith such tantconnection thediaphragms prodnce a hissing' or a Singing noise under the action of thewind. These objections are overcome by my invention, which embracesmeans for producing a slack in the connection of the vocal line with thediaphragm or diaphragms, and thereby suspending the functions of thediaphragms at one or both ends of the vocal line while practicallymaintaining their connection with said line. The direct 'connections ofthe line are with pivoted levers or other means adapted for eifectin gthe call from either end of the vocal line without afi'ecting theconnection of the line with the diaphragms, whereby the diaphragm of oneor both instrnments can be adjusted in slack connection with the line,so that no communication can take place and no conversation be hearduntil the signal has been given and the diaphragms of both instrnmentsput in taut connection with the vocal line.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fignre l represents a frontelevation of the transmitting and receiving instrument of a telephoneembracing my improvements; Fig. 2, a Vertical sectional view of thesame, showing the diaphragm in slack or non-communicating connectionWith the vocal line; Fig. 3, a similar view, showing the diaphragm intaut or communicating connection With the vocal line; Fig. 4, a Verticalsection taken on the line w x of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a side elevation,showing` the signal device in connection with its operating-lever; Fig.6, a similar view, showing the signal device disconnected from itsoperating-lever. Fig. 7 shows the call-hell side, and Fig. S ahorizonial section taken on the line y y of Fig. 3, showing the devicefor holding the speaking and hearing part in taut relation to the vocalline.

The instrument is coinposed of a fixed case, a, within which a month andear part, Z), is fitted to slide, having the diaphragm c, to which thevocal-line wirc d is connected by a tlexible section. The fixed part isa box of any suitable form secnred to the wall or other place, andcarries the signal device. The month and ear part bis adapted to have alimited horizontal slidingmovement within the fixed part, and the latterfor this pnrpose is open at its front side, while the coverofthe movablepart forms also the cover b' of the fixed part. The movable part ispreferably formed of a block of wood With a central opening forming thespeaking and hearing orifice c, the inner end of which is closed by thediaphragln. I prefer to inakethe central opening,e, cylindrical, and toattach the diaphragm to the back of the block b, so .as to leave anarrow space, c', commnnicating with the central opening, the diaphragmocovering the full area of theblock, bnt attached to it only around itsedges, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to give freedom for vibration.The narrow space c' between the solid end of the block and the diaphragmserves to receive the sound-Waves with their full effect upon thediaphra gm. The movable month and ear part Z), when set fully within thefixed case, leaves a chamber therein back of the dia-phragm to allow ofthe arrangementin IOO said case of a signal-Operating lever. This lever-f is preferably arranged in vertical position, is pivoted at its upperend to the fixed case, and, passing through the chamherin the back partofsaid case, is connected atitslower end to the signal-Operating device.The lever and the back ofthe fixed case are provided with openings forthe line d, coincident with the center of the speaking and hearingorilice.

The vocal line is connected at each end by means of an eyed button, g,to the lever f of each instrument, the tension of said linebeing bornedirectly by said levers and the buttons resting thereon. The line-Wireis connected by these buttons (1 to buttons g' of the diaphragms o bymeans ofa short section of silk, cotton, or other flexible cord, h, soas to allow of the movementsof the speaking and hearing parts to maketheir connection with the linewire slack or taut. The button g has nofixed connection with the lever f, and the fiexible cord-section h isattached to said button, so that when drawn taut it practically forms apart of the line-wire, and the strain of the latter may be borneentirely by the dia1 hragms when the speaking and hearing` part is drawnoutward from the fixed case by the person desiring to communicate, asshown in Figs. 3 and 8. This adjustment, however, is not made until thecall has been made through the line and while the flexible section is ina slack condition, as shown in Fig. 2, and the tension of the line isupon the button-connection with the lever.

The lower end of the leverfprojects sufficiently below the fixed case toform a handle, with which the call device is connected, and which isconstructed in such manner as toimpart the vibratory movements of thelever to a bell-hammer or other sounder. As shown, this device consistsof a rod, i, seeured in vertical position to the fixed case, having itslower end, bent or eranked and connected to a plate,j, on the handle endof the lever, and having its upper end, '272, similarly bent, andearrying the bell-hammer is by a spring-atut, it, in position to strikethe bell k, the extentof the vibration of which arm is adjusted by aset-screw, Z, secured in a bracket on the case, so that the hammer willalways strike the bell when the line is vibrated.

'A spring, m, is arranged in the case to support the leverfunder thetension of the line. To vibrate the line to make the call it is onlynecessary to place the thumb or finger upon the lower end of the leverand press it back in the direction of the line, and, compressing thespring m, let the thumb orfinger slip off, when the force of the springwill cause the leverf to fly back, and thus give a sudden pull upon theline-Wire, vibrate the lever at the other instrument, and give adistinct ring of the hell to call the person with whom conversation isdesired. The person thus making the call can detach the hammer-rod t'from the leverfof his instrument, if he desires to make a call,

can take place; the operator at the other end of the line having alsoput his instrument in taut connection with the line.

The cover of the speaking and hearing part is provided with handles a a,by which it is drawn outward to adj ust the telephone for commuuication,and set back to relieve the diaphragm of the tension of the vocal line.As it is necessary to hold the speaking and hearing part when drawnoutward to maintain the taut relation of its. flexible cord-section ltwith the line, I utilize the handle a n as holds for this purpose,although any suitable holding device may be provided. When the handlesare thus used they pass through the cover of the hearing and speakingpart, and maybe pivoted thereto, and they extend within the case,preferably at the corncrs thereo'l', a suflicient distance to formratchet-pawls 'r 1", adapted to take into ratchet-racks 8 8, fixcd tothe inside walls of the fixed case. The relation of theseratchet-handles to the fixed racksis such that in drawing out thespeaking and hearing part the inner ends of the ratchet-arms will moveover the ratchet-teeth of the fixed racks and take into them by pressingthe handlcs toward each other, and thus hold the movable part so as toput and maintain its diaphragm in taut relation with the line-wire. Whenthe conversation is over the holding-arms are released from the racks bypressing the handles from each other, there being sufficient play of thehandles in the cover to allowof such holding and releasingfunct-ionoftheirinnerends, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8. The handles areconnected to the speaking and hearing part b, so as to be fixtures withit, drawing it 'out and setting is back, and yet be under the control ofthe operator as to their holding and releasing functions. The extent ofthe movement of the hearing and speaking part is from two to fourinches, to give the required slack in its connection with the line-wire.When the speaking and hcaring part is set back, as in Fig. 2, the strainof the vocal-line wire is entirely upon the leverj'of the signal device;but when the movable part b is drawn out the strain of the vocal-linewire is upon the diaphragln, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8.

I claim-- 1. In an acoustic telephone, the diaphragm of the speaking andhearing part, connected with the vocal line by a short section of cordof some suitable flexible material, in combination with thesignal-operating` lever, a sustain- IOS IIO

IIS

ing-spring therefor, and a fixed part or case within which the said.speaking and hearing part is adapted for adjustment to render the saiddiaphragm connection slack or tant in relation to the vocal lne,substantially as described, for the pnrpose speeified.

2. Thecombination,in an acoustic telephone, of a fixed part or case andthe vocal line with an adjustable speaking and hearing` part, a shortcord or flexible section connecting,` it with the Vocal line, a pivoteddevice connected with the said fixed part or case and the vocal line,and a snstaining-spring for said pivoted part, substantially as hereinset forth, for the purpose specified.

3. In an acoustic telephone, tlie traiismitting and receiving`instrument, composed of a fixed part or case and an adjnstable speaking'and hearing part having the diaphragm, the latter being` connected tothe vocal line by a short flexible (lord-section and adapted to be settoward and from the end of the vocal line to render the said fiexiblesection slack or taut iii relation to said vocal line, snbstantially asdescribed, for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, in an acoustic telephone, of the fixed part or case,the vocal line, and means for connecting it With said fixed pait or casewith the adjnstable speaking and hearing; part, the fiexibleeord-connectionv of the diaphragm with said vocal line, and nieans forOperating' said speaking and hearing' part and holding the same when setin tant connection with the vocal line, substantially as desci'ibed, forthe purpose specified.

5. In combination, in an acoustic telephone, the fixed part or case a,the adjustable speaking and hearing; part b, having the diaphragm o, thevocal line d, the signal-Operating lever f, its snpporting-spring m, thefiexible cordsection h of the line, the signal device, and means forOperating` and holding the adjustable part in relation to the fixedpart, substantially as described, for the pnrpose specified.

G. Theeombination, in an acoustictelephone, of the fixed part or case a,the adjustable speaking` and hearing part Z), having the diaphragm c,the flexible cord-section h, the lever f, its supporting-spring m, theline d, and the signal device, with the handles n a, forining` theratehet-pawls r r, and carried by said adjustable part, and the racks 88, carried by said fixed part, substantially as described, for thepurpose specified.

7. The combination, in an acoustic telephone, of the line d, the leverf, and the line-button g, having' a non-fixed relation to said lever,with an adjustable speaking and hearing part, a supporting-spring, m,for said lever, and a signal device operated by said lever.

8. In an acoustic telephone, the coinbination of the line and means forsupporting it independent of the diaphragni with an adjustable carryingpart for the diaphragin and a short cord-section connecting saiddiaphragin with the line, substantially as described, for the pnrposespecified.

In testimony whereof I have herennto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing` witnesses.

JAMES W. OLARK.

Witnesses:

NA'JJHAN J. KINNEY, SAMUEL E. HAGY.

